"Geological materials are being accumulated. If clear signs of oil-bearing rocks had been found in the Orsha Depression, we would already be drilling there," said the chief geologist.

The organizer of an illegal migration channel for Iraqi citizens has been detained in the Shumilino district, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Internal Affairs Department reported.

Over the past 10 years, the region's housing and communal services enterprises have increased their consumption of local types of fuel (LTF) by 5.5 times. The natural gas substitution amounted to 120 million cubic meters. Last year, 9 boilers with mechanized loading, operating on LTF, with a total capacity of 23 MW were commissioned. As a result, the share of economical fuel used in this sector reached 54 percent, which is the best result in the republic.

A new technology for the production of jacquard carpets, allowing the manufacturing of "super-shaggy" products with a pile height of up to 70 mm, has been implemented at Vitebsk Carpets OJSC.

For the entire period of the festival, 35 catering establishments in Vitebsk (practically all restaurants, cafes, bars in the city center and at hotels) that serve guests and participants of the celebration are allowed to operate around the clock.

Responding to a question about the bias in performer competitions, Maxim Dunaevsky noted that accusations of lobbying for participants' interests are made against jury members at all competitions, both in Russia and in Europe. "There is a way to combat this system. I know this way and I will apply it," he stated categorically.

This summer, a total of 35 stationary camps with round-the-clock stays for children, 13 camps on leased premises, 119 specialized camps with nine-day stays, and 630 day camps operated in the region.

Defects in the supplier's equipment are slowing down the implementation of an investment project at Vitebskdrev OJSC. This was announced today to journalists by the General Director of Vitebskdrev OJSC, Anatoly Yukhnovets, reports BELTA correspondent.

In September, the "Pure Color" drawing studio for adults will open in Vitebsk. It will operate at the Center for Contemporary Art.

Border guard ensign Maksim Rolic noticed a fire in the attic of a residential building in the settlement of Kozyany, Braslav district. He immediately informed the duty officer of the border post, the Ministry of Emergency Situations employees, and began to extinguish the fire himself.